Short and sweet, my top two.
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PLAN ONE
To try one month cheaply and see how it goes:
Emerge $237 with coupon code FEELGOOD50 (Tirzepatide only) Link to their Eligibility Page
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You can stay on the lowest dose that is working for you. I stayed on that lowest dose for 3 months. Come back to my site once you hit 10mg for better pricing. Or just switch to Orderly (it's easy to switch providers) for 399/mo higher doses and use coupon GO4ORDERLY. Your first month there will be $349. Again, you don't go up in dose every month with these providers so you won't hit that price point for a while. Other providers may try to bump you up but these are reputable, which is why I recommend them.
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PLAN TWO
Get a 3-Month starter pack... That you can stretch out!
Orderly $99/mo Semaglutide (299) or $199/mo Tirzepatide (599) Link to their SimpleStart
You are given a 2.5mg, 5mg, and 7.5mg dose month's worth of tirzepatide. That's 90mg. You don't have to bump up every month. Most people don't. These can be stretched into multiple months. You refill when you are ready. So this could be a 4 or 5 month option.
Don't have 599 on hand? Orderly offers Afterpay.​
Why do I need to share my ID or take a video?
As telehealth providers, they are all required to have you provide a form of identification. It will be with submitting a photo of your driver's license and/or a video of you self-identifying. Different states have different requirements along these lines but either method is protected by HIPAA law just as it is in a doctor's office setting.
Why do some providers offer service in my state and not others?
There are a few reasons. Some states have different regulations surrounding telehealth. In California, for example, there is a lengthy and expensive approval process. Some providers skip this state and intentionally stay smaller. Some are in the process but it just hasn't reach completion yet. California reportedly also gives preference to businesses located in this state, so some of the providers who offer service there are located in California.
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If you are paying a rate or with a company you aren't entirely satisfied with currently in one of the limited states, feel free to check back to see if things have opened up. I know that some are in the works.
What comes in the package?
The package will be a large shipping box. You might be surprised at the size. It will include a large padded cold pack sleeve with a large ice pack or ice packs. The pre-mixed vial will be nested inside the cold pack. Your supplies will typically be outside the cold pack. So don't throw away the box thinking you didn't receive your needles and wipes.. Reputable pharmacies all include them.
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I have heard anecdotally about a pharmacy, not one on my trusted list, shipping warm meds. If this should happen to you, would you please take a moment to send me a note? Contact Alison I like to keep track of any pharmacies having issues as well as our good ones. Thank you.
What to expect on delivery day
I have had people ask me if they need to leave a cooler on their porch, if they need to take the day off of work, or whether the package will be ok for hours. I can say that I would be confident with my Hallandale meds being packed as well as they are, and seeing other folks packaging, to leave them out for many hours. Some of you live in very hot climates so you'd want to decide what's right for you. Mine have full-size ice packs that are still solid ice when they arrive. In general, with this whole process, I would say to worry less.
Shipping & Delivery Notices
With the current surge in demand, providers and pharmacies are working around the clock to fill orders. It is the same across the board. We tend to all be excited to get our shipments, too! One thing that is recommended is to download the FedEx app. You may get a shipping notice from your provider first, but sometimes when the pharmacy drops it with FedEx -- before contacting the provider who contacts you -- it will zip through the FedEx system and pop up as an incoming delivery to you quickest. I hear that most pharmacies use FedEx.
Will any compound providers accept HSA or FSA?
Yes, all of the providers I have spoken with do currently accept HSA or FSA.
I'm scared of needles!
This is the teeniest of them. Seriously, I was too. I just stared at it. But diabetics do it every day, and these are insulin needles.
You may have seen the oral forms being touted, and I would just say the research shows the bioavailability of those forms to be pretty low. If you are going to do a GLP-1, to me, the only sensible route is injectables. This will become a more commonplace administration of medication at home in the future, with injectable peptide therapies becoming these groundbreaking option to avoid needing heavy medications down the road. Why injectable? Because they bypass your gut where they'd be degraded. Seriously, I picked a freckle on my thigh and went for it. Then I had to laugh at myself because that was it. It was no big deal. Then after the loss of inflammation, my rings falling off within two weeks, the relief felt in my body and mind from calmed tissues, and then losing weight? I honestly started seeing it as a self-care ritual.
How do I travel with my medication?
You are allowed to carry medication and supplies including needles in your carry-on luggage with a valid prescription. You will want to print your script and keep with your medication. There are travel coolers you can find easily on Amazon. One user recommended this case with the digital thermometer, TSA approved. Other folks use a large metal water bottle and put an ice pack inside.
What do I do if I stall in my weight loss?
There is a page dedicated to Tips For Stalls and your provider will guide you too. Just know, this is common. It's not the pharmacy watering down the medication, as some jump to that conclusion and blast the pharmacy online, it is not statistically likely that you're a non-responder, it is just part of the nature of the medication. It is the same in studies of branded GLP-1's. And there are some easy things to try to breeze on by a stall.
What other benefits do GLP-1's have?
It's crazy. The exploration of what these peptides can do is ongoing, but as people take them, they are reporting benefits like these. Also, there's no reason you have to tell people why you are taking a GLP-1, but weight loss can be considered a side effect, rather than a goal. The goals can also be...
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Lower inflammation in body & brain. Pain relief. Better sleep. They are sometimes prescribed for sleep apnea.
Joint pain relief (including arthritis). People are reporting getting off of other meds.
Alcohol craving reduced - it's even being prescribed off-label for alcohol and drug dependency
Other cravings reduced. Users talk about stopping other compulsive behaviors like shopping, gambling, even nail biting.
Improved liver and kidney function
Dementia/Alzheimers treatment and prevention. A perk since it runs in my family. Maybe yours too.
Improve cholesterol levels. Lower blood pressure. Reduced risk of cardiovascular issues, and not just for those who are obese.
Protect Your Heart / Longevity
Tony Bashall MD, a cardiologist at Franciscan Health Indiana Heart Physicians, Obesity brings serious risks. “If you have a BMI of 30 or more, your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes is four to five times higher. With a BMI over 35, that risk jumps to 12 times.” He explains, “Heart health is one of the biggest benefits I’ve seen from these medications."
Talk to your provider about the ways in which the GLP-1 may help your situation and you may be surprised.
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Inflammation was personally my most dramatic takeaway. Chronic inflammation is the root cause of most diseases, and I had no idea how inflamed my body was until taking tirzepatide. I was into holistic health, studied herbalism, ate well, made turmeric and ginger root juices, I truly had no idea until it was gone. I felt calmer too.
What happens now that the shortage is over?
Nothing. It's business as usual. The big difference is that the compounding pharmacies are "compounding", which is what they do. They are adding very small amounts of helpful ingredients for your journey. For more details, I have a dedicated page
Do you know any discount codes?
YES! Most companies do not offer promo codes but I know the ones who do.
Emerge - $50 off using FEELGOOD50
OrderlyMeds - $50 off using GO4ORDERLY
Will you know if I sign up?
No. It's confidential. But if you'd like me to know, it helps keep the site alive. I also put any referral credits in Iris' college fund. I don't have ads on the site because I don't want anyone to feel marketed to when they are looking for real solutions for their health. And this is my site, so I get to have a corner of the internet that's authentic. But if you want to make sure I get credit, just shoot me an email at alison@compoundproviders.com and say hi!
Is it easy to switch providers?
Yes. You will need a picture (screenshot) of your current script. If you don't have that readily available, some will alternately accept a photo of your vial box from your current pharmacy showing your dose level. You will want to contact the new provider in advance so your treatment is not interrupted. Many, if not most people end up using more than one provider over time. They make it fairly easy to transfer.
More Coming Soon
Please feel free to reach out with questions or suggestions of what you want to see answered in the FAQs